Record-cabinet.



R. M. VICK. RECORD CABINET. APPLIOATION FILED 00126, 19110.

Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

RESIDENEE- "la DA YR.

AGE

OCCUPATION cumvmlmm', or

RESP.

n PULSE cna. 'ra

R. M. VICK. RECORD CABINET. A' ffeATIoN FILED 00T. 26, 1910.

984,051 a Patented Feb. 14, 1911.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

ROLLO 1u. vromlor DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

RECORD-CABINET.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Tocll whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, ROLLO M. VIoK, a citizen of the United States,residing at De troit, in the county of Wayne and State of Michigan, haveinvented a new and useful Record-Cabinet, of which the following is aspecication.

My invention relates to improvements in devices for the systematic andconvenient filing and keeping of, records of various kinds, the recordsbeing made upon cards or slips and arranged -in the device in the mannerhereinafter 'more fully described.

More particularly the invention relates to arecord cabinet and itsparts, including the record slips'and folders arranged in a drawersomewhat after the manner of a card index. The objects of the inventionAare to generally improve devices of the character mentioned, to providea record cabinet in which vcharge slips or other records may beconveniently kept in such way as to facilitate the insertingofadditional or new .records and the linding "of any particular recordwhen desired. 'v

A furthe-r object of the invention is to hold the various records spacedfrom each other insuch way that the individual records may standouticlearly and be readily found when desired, certain portions of therecord cards being also visible when filed 'so that it is unnecessary toremove the charge slips or memorandums from the drawer in the cabinet inorder to learn the most important fact concerning that record.

These objects, together with other objects l readily apparent to thoseskilled in the art, I attain by the construction illustrated in theaccompanying drawings, although my Vinvention maybe embodied in otherforms.

embodying my invention, showing the samej provided with a physicianscredit record.. Fig.- 2 is a perspective view of one of my A inventedfolders containing a physicians credit slip properly made out. Fig. 3 isa face view of one of the blank credit slips Such as intended for use bya physician.

Fig. 4 is a front perspective View of one of the division plates. Fig. 5is a longitudinal sectional view through a record cabinet Patented Feb.ill, 19ML. Application led October 26, 1910. Serial No. 589,256. y

drawer embodying my invention, a portion vof said drawer being brokenaway to reduce the size of the figure. I Fig. 6 is a transversesectional View taken on the line 6 6 of Fig. 5 showing one-of thedivision plates locked in the drawer. Fig. 7 is a transverse sectionalview showing the division plate unlocked and partly removed. Fig. 8 is atransverse sectional View showing the front end of the drawer with thelocking rod actuating device in locked position. Fig. 9 is a similarviewshowing the locking rod actuating device in unlocked position and withparts of the drawer broken away.4

Throughout the several views similar reference numerals indicate similarparts.

The numeral 1 indicates the front of the drawer, 2 the sides and 3 theback. The bottom 4 isfprovided on the inside of the drawer with a.median longitudinal channel 5 adapted to receive the lower projectionson the division plates as hereinafter will apear. p Along the middle ofthe channel 5 extend the locking rods 6, 6 which are convexe-concave incross section and arranged with`their convex sides adjacent, each rodbeing pivotally connected at its ends near the lower edge of the rod tothe front l and the back 3 as clearly illustrated at 7 in Fig. 5. Itwill be understood that by a simultaneous rocking movement of the rodsupon their pivotal connections the upper edges of said rods may bebrought inwardly until the ,'convex faces off the rods abut and saidrods stand as nearly vertically as possible or in unlocked position asin Figf 9 or said rods may be rocked to throw their upper edgesoutwardly, away from each other into the separated Vor locking positionshown in Fig. 8. It will be noted that in said locking posi'- tion thetwo rods present a cross section of V-shape, with the sides of the Vslightly inwardly curved toward eachother, and that in the unlockedposition, said rods are turned so that their upper edges are as closely.ad-

jacent each other as their .lower edges are in Y the locking position.

'For the purpose of actuating the locking y vrods the latch 8 isprovided, which latch .I

` in Fig. 8. It will be noted that the said lockthat.point, but theupper ends of the slots are stands vertically on the inner side of thefront l and is attached to said front hy means of the screws 9 passingthrough a j vertically disposed slot 10, which permits the latch to beraised or lowered by a sliding movement. For the purpose of presenting aconvenient finger hold, the upper end ot' the latch 8 is bent backwardlyor away from the front 1, forming the finger piecell, i which, asreadily seen in Fig. 5, may be conl l veniently grasped for the purposeof raising or lowering the latch 8. 4On the screws 9 intermediate thelatch 8 and the front 1 are spacing Washers 12 for the purpose ofholding the latch at a slight distance from the inner side of the saidfront. If desired a false front 13 may be arranged on the inside of thedrawer, extending from side to Side of the same, covering the latch 8and screws 9 and presenting a smooth even surface on the inside towardthe records.

The bottom end of the latch 8 extends downward into the channel 5 and atthe extreme lower edge of said latch two upwardly extending outwardlycurved slots 14 are arranged. Said slots are joined at the edge of thelatch, thus providing a common slot at considerably separated and adepending, curved-sided separating tip 15 results from the peculiarshape and arrangement of the slots. Where the slots 14 extend throughthe lower edge of the latch 8 the sides of the combined slots aresufficiently close to each other so that when the latch is raised to theunlocked position illustrated in Fig. 9 said side edges will engage theupper edges of the locking rods 6 and move them into the unlockedposition. When, however, the latch 8 is moved downwardly the upper edgesof the rods 6 will be permitted to separate and the aeparating tip 15moving down between the upper edges of said rods will produce a positivemovement of the same into the extended or locking position shown ingposition will normally be maintained by reason of the fact that theweight of the latch 8, although small, will tend to hold the latch inits downward position and any unlocking movement of therods will beprevented by the tip 15 until such time as the latch 8 is raised.

On the outer side of the front 1 may be arranged a suitable pull 16together with a label 17 if desired, said pull and label being of anywell known `form of construction.

Arranged in the drawer from front to back is a series of division plates18 preferably t'ormed from sheet metal having a lower projection 19adapted to enter the channel 5. Said projection 19 is provided with adove-tailed locking notch k20 opening through the lower edge of theplate and having upwardly extending, outwardly inclined sides adapted tobe engaged by the locking rods (i when in the locking position, asillustrated in Fig. G, said locking notch at the extreme lower edge oithe plate, however, being of 7 sufficient width to permit the plate tobe removed from the drawer when the rods 6 are in the unlocked position,as illustrated in Fig. 7.

Each division plate is provided with a plurality of spacinglsprings 21,preferably four in number. Said springs should be turned toward thefront 1 when the plates are in the drawer. lila/:h spring' consists of asmall, curved strip of spring metal firmly connected at its upper end tothe body voit-the division plate, curved outwardly and extendingdownwardly from the point of attachment, and having its lower free endformed rounding or curled so as tol present a smooth, rounding surfaceat its most extremely forward portion. The purpose of this construeticnis to permit the readyinsert-ion or withdrawal of records withoutthesame catching on the ends of the springs and causing inconvenience.

An inspection of Fig. 5 will disclose how the spacing springs 21 serveto maintain the division plates in spaced relation to each other and invertical position, said springs being so distributed over the divisionplates as to give several points of contact for the springs of eachplate against the plate or records immediately in front thereof.

Attention is nowy directed to the folders used in the drawer. Eachfolder comprises a back portion 22 and a frontI portion 28. The backportion and front portion are connected by an integra-l foldedy portion24 along the lower edge. The back portion 22.

is of a width and height corresponding substantially to the width andheight of the division plates 18. Formed integrally with the backportion 22 and extending above the upper edge` of the same is the nametab 25 upon which may be written the name of a patient, client,customer, month, class of merchandise or other distinguishing word orsymbol in accordance with the use to which the record cabinet is put. Inthe drawings said tabs are shown as bearing the.

names of various patients as the credit slips illustrated are intendedfor the use of a physician. The front portion 23 is of less height thanthe back portion 22 so that when the folders are arranged in the draweras illustrated in Fig. 5, the upper portion of the credit slipWill'extend above the top edge of said front portion.

In Fig. 3 is illustrated one of the blanlt credit slips 26 for the useof a physician. Said slips may be printed on paper, each slip being of awidth substantially equal to lto the back portion 22. At the 'topfof theslip on the left hand side is a space 27'for the name of the patient. Tothe right of said space 27 are spaces adapted for the 'record offinancial transactions between physician and patient including spacesfor charge, credit, etc., and in the eXtreme upper right hand corner, aspace 28, in which may be written the amount of balance due on account.Below the 'spaces at the top of the slip may be arranged appropriatespaces for the record of other facts concerning the case as maybedesired.

lVhen a slip 26 is made out the corresponding folder is readily found byreason of the alphabetical o r other systematic arrangement of thefolders in the drawer and the said slip placed in its appropriatefolder. In returning the folder to the drawer it should be placedimmediately back of one of the division plates and pushed downwardlyinto place, the spacing springs 21 of the division plate immediately tothe rear pressing forwardly upon the folder and holding the same incontact with the back of the next forward division plateas illustratedin Fig. 5. In this way each folder is main` tained in vertical position,the various folders bemg uniformly spaced from eachother so that thename `tabs 25 may be convenyiently read without necessitating theseparating of the various records by the fingers of the hand as isusually necessary with card systems and other similar recording devicesnow commonly in use.

The various division plates should preferably have a cut-out portion 29in their upper edges so as to permit the various folders and slips to bemore. readily removed when desired, aswell as to permit the person usingthe credit cabinet to place his finger against the forward slip toseparate the slips in the folder from the front portion 23 and thedivision plate when inserting an additional slip into the folder,thus'preventing the fil- 'ing of new slips back of slips already filedwhen in fact each new slip should be placed in, front of thosepreviously filed. Anv additional purpose of the cut-.out portion 29 isto make visible a portion of the name space 27 of the credit slips inthe folder immediately back of each division plate so as to readilydetect any error in the filing of credit slips in the wrong folder. Thisfeature is clearly illustrated at 30 in Fig. 1,

the folder bearing the name Elbert, R. L. being removed from said drawerand -the upper edge of the slip bearing'the name Elkins, B. M beingvisible as properly filed in the folder bearing the same nameon the nametab.

The upper right hand corner of each division plate is cut away at 31 topermit the various balance-spaces 28 to be plainly visible when 'thecredit yslips are filed, as shown in Fig. 1. Y In said figure, forinstance, vit may be'readily seen that the balance due upon B. M. Elkinsaccount is $4.50, and that the balance due upon the account of F. L.Clark is $7.00. If preferred the division plates may be made of a heightonly equal to the front portion 23 of the folders so that the entire topedge of the front charge slip in the folder immediately back of eachdivision plate would be readily seen. The preferable form, however, isthat illustrated in the drawings wherein only the curved cut-out portionand the cut-out por# tion at 31 are employed.

In the use of a credit cabinet such as deput into its appropriate folderimmediately or laid aside until a number of such slips have been madeout, when all of the same may be placed in their appropriate folders atthe same time. In making out each slip the previous balance should becarried for- Ward from the last slip made out for the same patient. Thisforwarded amount should be placed in the. space marked F ord. at the topof the slip. The amount of the-charge should then be written in thecharge space underneath marked Ch. and the total carried forward to thespace marked Amt Any credit should be arranged in the credit space,marked Cn and the balance carried over into the space 28 marked Bal. Therecord in Fig. 2 will thus show that the previous balance was $26.50,that for a call on October 24, 1906, a charge of $1.50 was made, thatonthe same day a payment of $10.00 was made, making the balance due$18.00. This balance will show up in the'drawer in such manner that itmay be seen immediately when desired without removing any of the recordsfrom' the folder, the division plates being so sepa- 4division plates at31 disclosing the balance on the most forward slip in the folder. It isof course important that the last slip made out should beplaced in frontof all previous slips in the folder, so that the latest balance willshow Without removing either folder or slips.

It will be understood that when all of the division plates 18 areproperly in place within the drawer and the latch 8 is in the low ered,locked position, all of the said plates will be locked in the drawer,the various folders, however, being readily removed. By'the mere liftingof the latch 8, however, all -of the division plates are instantlyunlocked, and any of the said plates may then be removed, thus makingthe changing about of records or the addition of new records and foldersvery easy. In the drawer shown in Fig. 1, for instance, if R. L. Elbertsaccount has been closed and it is desired to remove that folder fromamong the active accounts not only the folder` and slips shown in Fig. 2should be removed, but also the division plate immediately in front oftheElbert folder should be removed. This will bring the 13. M. Elkinsfolder up to a position immediately back of the L. A.

` Dowling folder, and the records and division plates removed may bereadily transferred to another part of the drawer or otherwise disposedof. New accounts are as easily inserted at their appropriate places inthe drawer.l

lVhile I have shown the device as adapted to the use of a physician inthe keeping of his accounts, itr will be apparent that the device isequally well adapted to a very large number of other purposes includingthe keeping of accounts in mercantile establishments as well as therecording of other facts where it is desirable to have the variousdivisions, folders or cards separated and easily found when desired.l

I claim:

1. A. record cabinet comprising a container, spring separated divisionplates arranged in series in said container, means adapted to lock saiddivision plates in said container, record slips provided with recordspaces at their top edges and adapted to' be arranged between adjacentdivision plates of the series and said division plates, provided withcut-away portions adapted tov permit said record spaces to be-seen whensaid slips are arranged between said plates.'

, 2. A record cabinet comprising al container, spring separated divisionplates arranged in series in said container, record slips provided withrecord spaces and adapted to be arranged. between adjacent divisionplates of`the serles, record space portions of said record slipsextending above said division plates, and adapted to be seen when saidslips are arranged between said plates in said container.

3. A record cabinet comprising a container, spring separated divisionplates arranged in series in said container, means adapted to lock saiddivision plates in said container, folders adapted to be arrangedbetween adjacent division plates of the series, said folders providedwith back and front portions, record slips provided with.

record spaces at their top edges and adapted to be arranged in saidfolders between said back and front portions, said front poraway attheir ,top edges, whereby, when said record slips and folders arebetween said division plates, said spaces on said slips may be seenwithout removing said slips or folders. 4

4. In a record cabinet, in combination with record slips provided withrecord spaces at their top edges, spring separated division platesprovided with cut-out portions adapted to permit said record spaces to'be seen' when the record slips are arranged between said divisionplates.

5. A record cabinet comprising a container, a plurality of transverselydisposed,

vertical division plates arranged in series 6. A record cabinetcomprising a container, a plurality of transversely disposed, verticaldivision plates arranged in series in said container, saidplatesprovided with spring means adapted to maintain the various plates inspaced relation to each other,

means for locking said division plates in.

said container, folders adapted to be arranged between the divisionplates'and record slips adapted .to be, arranged in said folders, eachfolder comprising a back portion and a front portion, said front portionbeing of less height than said back portion, said record slips being ofgreater height than said front portion andl said division platesprovided with cut-out portions adapted to permit the upper portions ofsaid-record slips to be seen when the said folders and slips arearranged between said division plates.- l A 7. A device of the characterdescribed comprising a series of division plates, each plate providedwith spacing springs adapted to maintain said division plates in spacedrelation and in vertical position, folders adapted to be arranged'between the various division plates, each folder comprising a backportion and a front portion connected at the bottom by 4an integralfolded portion, said back portion bein of a height equal to the heightof the division plates and having an integral name tab extending abovethe upper edge of said division plates, the front portion of a heightless than the height of the back portion, record slips of a heightgreater than the height of said tions of less height than said recordslips, l front portion but not greater than'the1 and said separateddivision plates being cut height of said back portion and provided v jat their upper edges with spaces for items of vhave hereunto subscribedmy name in the record, and'said division plates eut away at presence oftwo witnesses. y their top edges whereby the said spaces on said record.slips are Visible without removi VROLLO, M V/ICK' 5 ingsaid folders orsaid slips from between i Witnesses: said division plates. v WILLIAM H.MILLER,

In testimony that I claim the above, I I RENE LUTz.

